December 13-15, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2022
Historic and visually pleasing Civil War snare drum made prior to 1857, carried during the Civil War with a nicely painted identification by a drummer in the 21st Connecticut, retained by him after the war, and shown next to him in his G.A.R. uniform as well. Boldly painted in gilt letters on the face of the natural wood drum shell is "JOHN BOLLES / Co. D / 21st REG. CONN. VOLS. / 3rd BRIG 3rd DIV. / 24th A.C." with the company designation highlighted by foliate scrolls. Inside, opposite the vent hole, is a period label reading "Made and Sold / by / Meacham [-----] / 84 State Street, / Albany, / Importers from England and France / Manufacturers of various kinds of musical in/struments, and rifles, muskets leather caps, / and military equipments in general." Roswell Meacham manufactured and sold military goods at that address from 1833 to 1857. A rectangle cut from the label next to his name indicates removal of name "Pond," dating the label and likely the drum sometime close to the 1832 dissolution of Meacham and Pond, a partnership of his father and uncle with Sylvanus Pond. Between 2 vertical rows of tacks, the design around the vent hole is the 2 concentric circles with diamonds top and bottom known from other Meacham drums. John B. Bolles (1835-1910) enlisted in his hometown of Ashford, Connecticut, on 8/19/1862 and mustered into Co. D as a musician on 9/5/62 and served until discharge 6/8/1865. The regiment arrived in Washington in September 1862 and served in the 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac until March 1863, seeing action at Fredericksburg, and then joined the 7th Corps, Department of Virginia from April through July and then the 18th Corps, Department of Virginia and North Carolina; the 18th Corps Army of the James from May to December 1864, and the 24th Corps from then until muster out, giving a window for the painted unit designation though Bolles certainly carried the drum throughout the war. The regiment lost 5 offices and 55 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, an indication of its active service in various expeditions, raids and the battles of Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Drewry's Bluff, Cold Harbor, service under fire for months at Petersburg, and the fighting at Fort Harrison and Chapins Bluff. At the very end of the war the regiment was in the entrenchments in front of Richmond and was among the first to enter the Confederate capital. CONDITION: Excellent. Very slight rubbing to one or two of the gold letters. A conservator's card is placed near the Meacham label inside the drum indicating it was "cleaned, refurbished & restrung by Noble & Cooley Co. April 1991." A small brace was applied inside the rim at one rope hole and the replacement rope run through hooks rather than the holes. Like the body, the rims are original and show expected wear to the holes and upper edges. The heads and flesh hoops are in place. Heads are usually replaced many times in course of drum's lifetime. These are correct and look very good, even if the age is undetermined, as are the snare and brass tightener. The leather rope tighteners are a standard reversed heart pattern with hole and embossed stars, again correct and, if not old, a proper restoration. The body and paint are undisturbed. This is great looking drum with a original paint, carried by an active regiment.
Item Dimensions: 17" x 18"
Paperwork
Research and File of John Bolles